Freelance Archival Research Assistant, Karen Bartlett, (Cambridge, MA)
Posted October 27, 2026
Description
Project: Houghton Mifflin and the 1933 publication of Mein Kampf
I am a UK-based author researching Houghton Mifflin’s publication of the abridged American edition of Hitler’s Mein Kampf in 1933.
I am seeking a reliable freelance research assistant based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to consult relevant archival records at Harvard University and provide high-quality digital copies for research purposes.
Responsibilities
- Locating and consulting specified boxes and folders in the Houghton Mifflin Company papers.
- Photographing or scanning relevant correspondence, memoranda, reports and other documents, subject to the archive’s rules.
- Capturing complete documents, including reverse sides, attachments and enclosures where relevant.
- Maintaining a clear record of collection names, box and folder numbers, document dates, senders and recipients.
- Organising the images into clearly labelled digital folders and supplying a simple spreadsheet inventory.
- Flagging any additional relevant material discovered during the research.
Qualifications
Ideal experience: archival research, American publishing history, twentieth-century history, library special collections or historical document photography.
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, with in-person access to the relevant Harvard repository required.
Hours and Compensation
Please propose an hourly rate or fixed fee, with an estimate of the number of hours required. Please include any travel or other expenses separately.
How to Apply
Please send a brief description of your relevant experience, confirmation of your ability to access the repository, your availability and your proposed fee to [email protected]
The initial commission will be a small paid pilot, with the possibility of further work if successful.